Tool-shifting mechanism for agricultural implements.



APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24. IBM.

Patented Nov. 27, 191?.

4 SHEE TS-SHEET 1.

' Wihieooeo G ffo mac 13 C. E. WH'ITE.

v TOOL SHIFTING MECHANISM FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24. 1910.

L EQWQO Patented N0v'..27,1917.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

q vwwewao I WWMIQVIM c. E. WHITE. v TOOL SHIFTING MECHANISM FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24 I9I0.

Patented Nov. 27, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

C. E. WHITE.

"TOOL SHIFTING MECHANISM FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS'.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24. 1910.

LMLWQ. Patented; N0v.27,1917- 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' v (Java 1k wad moses V a Z WW I fl yw/n terrace.

cerns the frames which m Warns arnn nth.

oH AnLEs E. WHITE, on oLI nE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR To nnnnna vmnson 00., A

oonronntr on or 'rL NoI's.

" TOQL-SH-IF TING nonamsnron AGRICULTURAE nvrrnnnnnrs.

To all whom it may concern i V Be it known that I, CHARLES TE; WHITE, a citizen of-the United States, residing at Mo line,iin the county ofR-ock Island and State of Illinois, have invented. certain new and useful Improvements in Tool-Shifting Mechanism for Agricultural Implements, wof which the following is-a specification, reference being hadthereintothe accompanylin f drawing. Q

lhis invention relates to improvements in agricultural implements such as planters and others which aresiniilar thereto as conadjust and support the tools. The improvements are particularly applicable to corn planters of' the hinge frame type. Each is usually made with a vertically vibratable main frame anounted at theaxisoftwo ground wheels around which it yibrates, and a supplemental tool-carrying, -or runner, frame in front, hinged to the main frame, and also supplementallyi'joined thereto by flexible connecting devices. 1

.The object of this invention is to provide, for such implementsza vmechanism. by means of which the driver canuat will vibratethe two frames vertically, and, while doing so, first, be able to carry the tool frame from those positions where it is held entirely out of operation downto its lowermost position; second, be able, while swinging the fran1es,to place the tool frame at either of several working positionsf-third, be 'able tolockthem optionally inany desired position; and, fourth, also be able to release the locking mechanism at anytime; and accomfplish: all these matters with theminimum degree of bodily movement ofhis'feetor hands. t

It is essential in many farm. implements such ascorn planters that means be provided whereby the depth to which the earth tools penetrate can be quickly and accurately adjusted while they are at work. It isralso desirablein such implementsfthat means be providedwhereby the tools ca'nbe @easily and quicklyraisedwfronr the ground eitherat theaend: ofr aifie'ld or. when' an ob- -50,

adjustment of the p artswhich determine the struction is met Withnvithout disturbing the depth of soil penetration. v

i In operatin f some implements the drivers attention must be closelyydirected to a number of P mattersquite aside ttrom the position Specificationof Letters Patent. Pamgnted Nov, 27, 191 7. npplieationf led March24, 1.910. -Senia1No. 551,895.

lease andlovckthemvby means of his feet to as full an extentas possible.

Prolonged movements of his feet are not practicable. I have devised a construction in which two structural matters are brought to his assistance;l I. provide for the automatic movement vertically of the fulcrum parts, upon \VhIGh the footlevers act, in relation to the wheel frame, and also provide -for the vertical movementbt the supporting :frame itself. The ear-herconstructions, with which I am acquainted, in each of which 1use was'madeof a foot lever, were objection able for the reason that jthelever must move about its axis through i a large angle corresponding to the movementof the tools from their lowermost position to their uppermost position. Such large angle of movementis objectionable because of the relatively. small effectiveness of the :motion of the leverat the ends of the oscillation t and because of .the difficulty experienced by the operator in moving the lever through an extended path. And a longla-rm connectedto the runner frame 1 is objection able because of its small mechanical advantage.

One Oflthfi objects of. thislinvention is to =prov idenin an. implement ofvthislsort, in

combination with the. oppositely swinging main and tool: :frames and2the parts attached thereto, a' mechanism: in which there is a foot levertfor verticallyrshlfting the tool frameito bring the tools. into operative or "inoperative positions, and: means permitting thesaid ,lever tobe raised or lowered bodily in: relatlon to the: frames, and alsowmoved bodily in 'relationto the ground, and :to be fixed at any one of several elevations ac cording to the depth of penetration desired.

'By preference the vertical movement of the 1 said. lever: is 0 provided:- for by 'mounting its pivot upon or connecting it to: a second lever .(*pre ferably axhand l'ever) -which can be 'il'oiclred. in anyl desiredipositionland which provide a locking means for the first lever which is independent of the second lever and which prevents angular movement of the first lever as it moves bodily vertically.

In-tlieaccompanying drawings: V Figure 1 is aside elevation ofan implement embodying my invention, the earth'- working parts being shown in their lower or operative positions. Fig. 2 is a side elevation with the earthworking parts raised to aposition where they are just above the ground. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the front frame and the frame carrying'the operative parts lifted to their highest positions those which they occupy when the machine is being turnedor is being transported to or from the field.

Fig.4 is a plan view on a larger scale 'showin'g'the mechanism for adjusting the the'entire mechanism is supported To the crossbar 4 of the wheel frames and for locking them.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4:. i

i Fig. 6 is a view showing the adjacent parts of the frames which are hinged together.

Referring to the parts of the implement shown in the drawings (which is a corn planter'and here selecte'd'for illustration), 3 indicates the bars of a main frame resting on the axle 1 of ground wheels 2.' This frame isadapted to vibrate vertically around the 'axis of'the wheels from the position.

shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 3. The tool-carrying frame, in this case a planter runner frame, comprises the bars 6 and 7,

and cross bars, braces or frames 8 and 11, and has the draft tongue 34 rigidly connected thereto. It supports the runners 33, the seed receptacles '10, the check head frames, andthe tappet-actuated mechanism at 16. 'The tool, or runner, frame is pivotally connected at 12 on a transverse horizontal axis to the rear or wheel frame and is also vertically vibratable'from the posi-v tion shown'in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 3. V

The adjacent parts of the two frames move together vertically, the front or tool frame moving around an approximately fixed center at the neck yoke while the rear frame moves, as -stated, aroundthe axis ofthe ground wheels. There is also a flexiblecon- Inection'between the frames comprisingparts tobe referred'to below. The tongue -3lis rigidly secured at its rearend to the frontframe. Uponthis tongue and the-wheels 2 framexis secured a casting orbracket 35, to which" is bolted or riveted the upwardly and .rearwardly extending bar 36, upon the upper .end of which is mounted the: drivers seat 37, the ::bar- 361 and .seat. 3'1 beingsuitably supported and braced by bars 38, 38, which extend from the seat downward and outward to'the sidebars 3,3, of theframe. 13 is a carrier which is pivoted at 10 on the bracket and whichhas a forward extendmg forked arm uponthe end. of which is mounted a foot lever mechanism. 39 is a hand lever secured to the carrier 43' and prorier. H Thebody part 4 1 is'formed with aforvided with a locking bolt 41 which co6perates with a toothed segment 42 rigidly se' ward extendingshank l-il,-tothe;end of V which is secured a dependinglink 'orrod 46.

This link or' rodv has its 1ower endextending through a bracket 47' on the rear endof the tongue. 48 is a coiled spring interposed between the upper' end of the linkyand bracket 47', and 419 isa cotter "pincin the lower end of the linkelSwhich serves to prevent the withdrawal of the "linkfrom the bracket 47. I a

- The body part 4-1 is also formed on its right'sidewith a shank 44 and on itsleft side with a similar shank 44. 50 is afoot lever arm which is pivotally mounted on the shank 14 the lower. end of saidlever arm being formedwithajsocket 50 'to receive the end of the shank 4:4". 5l is a pivot pinor bolt'which secures the two parts together. The end of the shank 44 -is tapered,

as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5, 'soithat a certain amount. of lost motion is provlded between the shank 44 and the lever arm 50.

The lower end of the lever" arm 50* carries a locking hook or-catch 52 which cooperates with a :part which will presently bedescribecl The lower end of thefoot'lever arm is also provided witha socket'53 to receive 55 is a foot leverarm mounted on theleft a coiled spring '54,'one end of whichpresse's shank 44 of the bodyjpa'rter This foot lever arm is formed and-:mounted in a manner s1m1lar1to the foot lever arm 50, but

with this difference: Its lockinghook or catch 56' extends forward and the coiled spring 57 'is'correspondingly mounted so as to pressthe foot lever 55 forward relative to the shank 44. i 58 is "-a standard r 'which is pivotally con nectedxwith the handlever andthe footlever. by-means oftheaforesaidpinor bolt 45and whichisnconnected at its loweren'd by'means of a link 59 with the bracket 35, said linkbeing parallel to the arm d3 of the hand lever and equalin length tosaid arm; its rear side the'standard 58 is provided with later;

ally extending lugs60 and 61. These-lugs serve las' latch. keepers cooperation with Ilse the locking hooks or catches"52- and-" 56; spectively. At its upperiend the standard 58 has aforward =extensioiim5'8 in which is mounted an eye-bolt 62 to receive the upper end of a heavy coiled spring 63, the lower end of which is secured tothe forward eX- tending arm 4% of the foot lever mechanism.

The tendencyofthisspring is to lift the arm 44- and it serves, therefore, to partially counterbalance the weight of the frontrframe of the machine.

In the operation of the implement-the front frame can be raised andlowered by operating theliandlever alone ornby oper- "ating only the foot levers. 'Tluia let itbe supposed that the-machine is in operation with the parts inthe positions showirin Fig.

' l thetools enteringthe soilto such an extent as to secure PBIlBtI'EllZlOlTtOibhG desired depth. 'lhehandlever is locked in position and the catch 56 of the left foot lever arm is in locking eiiga'genientwith the keeper filon the standard 58. If; inpassing over the field, a, spot of unusually hard-soil is reached, the driver can place his right foot upon the lever arm andbypressmg forward maintain the tool at the=proper depth in spite of the hardness of the" soil, which would otherwise tendto' lift the tool and front'frame of the machine more or less. In a similar way the 'right foot leverarm canbe employed toforce the front *fr-ame downwardin passing over a dead furrow or fthe like; On tlie other hand, when the machine passes over'a spot of exceptionally soft or mellow soil; the drivercanrelieve the downward pressure 1 upon the front frame of the machine and preventitssinlc ing too deep by puttingiliis left footup0n the lever "arm 55 and pressingdownward.

If at anytime it is-desired to change-the depth of the soil penetrationjthis can be done by adjustingfthe carrier by means of the hand lever, the movement bf this carrier causing the entire system or foot levers to move bodily with it, because the body part 44 of the foot lever mechanism has a fulcrum support upon the swinging arm 43.

Such bodily movement of the foot lever mechanism does not afiect its operativeness, the latch keeper on standard 58-being maintained in the same relation tdthefoot lever parts in all positions of the carrier and the handlever because of the parallel link sup ports of the standard.

Having once determined the depth of the soil penetration by adjusting the hand lever and the carrier, it is not necessary to disturb this adjustment for the purpose of lifting the machine at the ends of the successive lines of operation, for when the end of a line is reachedthe machine can be lifted by simply pressing upon the left foot lever arm 55. When this lever is thrown down the parts are moved to the positions shown in "Fig; 2; the catch 52 of the right footlever arm 50 coming intoengagement with its keeper 60 so that the parts are locked in their lifted position. Of course, it it is not a desired to lockthe machine up in such position, the foot lever arm 55 need not be thrown down to the extreme limit of its movement and then when pressure is relieved from lever arm55, the parts will move downward by their own weight. It will be understood that when the parts are moved from the positions shown in Fig. l

tothose shown in Fig. 2, by forcingthe foot lever arm"55 downward, the first movement of the foot lever arm 55 serves to take up the lost motion: between it andthe shank 4114:", and to simultaneously detach the catch 56 from its keeper 61, the driver needs to give no attention whatever to the operation of the catch, be 'ause it is a part of the regular swinging movement of thelever which actuates the catch. This is an advantage which will readily be appreciated by those familiar with the handling of machines of this character. If the machine is locked up inthe position shown in F 2 it can readily be lowered again by simply pressing forward upoiithe right foot lever arm 50, the first part of the movementof said lever arm serving to take up lost motion and disengage the catch 52 in the manner previously described.

lVhen the machine is to be transported from place to place, it is desirable to lift the front frame to its highest position, as shown in Fig. 3, andthis, of course, is done by throwing the hand lever back asfar as itwill go and then throwing the left foot lever arm 55 downward to its extreme position. i

- It will be noted that by providing the two levers, connected and relatedin the way described, to each other and to the vertically movable frames which carry the levers bodily with them, I avoid alarge angle of movement for either of the latter and I also avoid a long-lever arm connected with the tool frame. The vertically movingframes 1 and thes'everal parts are so related thatthe work of effecting the adjustment is divided substantially equally between the two levers with the'result that a relatively small force applied through a relatively small distance is sufficient for either of them.

Not onlyhaveI provided an adjustable foot control mechanism for raising and j vide ,means whereby both raising and lowering can each be effected vmotion. v

What I claim is: p a 1.:In a mechanism for shifting vertically theearth-working tools ofargicultural im-' plements, the combination of a front toolcarrying frame, a rear wheel-mounted frame by a single foot 7 carrying a drivers seat, the said frame being l O,

pivoted together on a transverse axis and vibrating in opposite directions, earth-working toolscarried by the tool frame, a carrier. mounted on theinain frame-to move vertically therewith and vertically adjustable thereon, a lever pivoted to the carrier, a connection between the. lever and plements, the combination of a front toolcarrying frame, a rear wheel-mounted frame carrying a drivers seat, the said frames being pivoted together on a transverse aXis and vibrating in opposite directions, earthworking tools carried by the tool frame, a

tongue rigidly connected to the tool frame whereby both frames are supported exclu sively by the tongue and the wheels, a manually adjustable lever on the main frame, a

lock for holding said lever in adjusted position, a second adjustable lever pivoted-on the first lever to be movable therewith downwardrelatively to the ground and to the main frame when the first lever is moved forward and upward relatively to the ground and to the main frame when the first lever is moved backward, a connection between the second lever and the tool frame for "moving the tools downward when the second lever is moved forward and for moving the tools upward when the second lever is moved backward, and means operablewhen the second. lever is in its forward or in its backward position for looking it against movement with respect to the first lever, the

Copiesof this patent may be obtained m entire construction being such that "the movement of either lever' will change the V relatlve positions of the frames and simultaneously adjust vertically the positions; of

the tools. g p v 1 a 3. In a mechanism for shifting vertically V the earthrworking tools 'jof agricultural implements', the combination of a front toolcarrying frame,a rear wheel-mounted frame carrying a drivers seat,'the said framesbe- 111g pivoted together on aitransverse axis and vibrating in opposite directions, earthworking tools carried by the tool frame, a shiftingflmechanism carried by the main frame and movable vertically'therewith and movable vertically relatively thereto and flexibly connected to the tool-carrying frame, said mechanism comprising two independent sets of locking devices and two power-applying lever-like devices respectively accessible to the feet of the driver, one foriunlocking the tool frame and pushingiit down, and the other for both unloekingand elevatingboth frames to inoperative positions.

4a ,In a mechanismfor shifting vertically the earth-working tools'of agricultural implements, thecombination of a fron't tool carrying frame, a rear wheel-mounted fra'me V carrying a drivers seat,the said frames being'pivoted together on a transverse axis and vibrating in opposite dIIBCtIOIlS, earthworking tools carried by the tool frame, a

shifting mechanism carried by the main frame and movable vertically therewith and movable; vertically relatively thereto and flexibly connected to vjthe ztoolcarrying frame, said mechanism, comprising two ina dependent sets of locking devices, two vertically moving .power-applyingglever-like devices respectively accessible to the feet of the driver, one for unlocking thetool frame andpushing it down, and the other-for both unlocking and elevating both, frames to inoperative positions, and a lever on the main frame for moving the shifting mechanism a vertically.

In testimony whereof I aflix signature in presence of two witnesses. J1

CHARLES E. WHITE. ,Witnesses: 1 V a Y ,OsoAR F. LUNDAHL,.

, ,RoBERT M. ADAMS.

five cents each, by addressing the flbommissioner ot Patents. Washington, D12. 1 r i i 

